Apparatus for grinding agricultural discs

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for the edge grinding and sharpening of agricultural discs to provide a sharp cutting edge. The apparatus provides for a rotating circular table where by the use of a plurality of disc-supporting stations a disc can be brought into grinding contact with a grinding wheel while an additional disc for grinding is being positioned on the table and a disc previously ground may be simultaneously removed. In this manner a grinding and sharpening operation adapted for continuous automated operation may be provided.

United States Patent [191 Dari, Sr.

[4 1 Oct. 21, 1975 APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AGRICULTURAL DISCS [75] Inventor: William H. Darr, Sr., Beaver Falls,

[73] Assignee: Crucible Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. '22 Filed: Aug. 28, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 501,308

[52] US. Cl 51/108 BS [51] Int. Cl. B24B 5/18; B24B 29/00 [58] Field of Search 51/99, 104, 106 R, 108 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,166,859 7 1939 Carlson 51/108'R 2,405,417 8/1946 Fruth 51/145 T 2,479,579 8/1949 Leach et all. 51/106 2,507,998 5/1950 Russell; 51/108 R Primary Examiner-Othell 1V1. Simpson [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for the edge grinding and sharpening of agricultural discs to provide a sharp cutting edge. The apparatus provides for a rotating circular table where by the use of a plurality of disc-supporting stations a disc can be brought into grinding contact with a grinding wheel while an additional disc for grinding is being positioned on the table and a disc previously ground may be simultaneously removed, In this manner a grinding and sharpening operation adapted for continuous automated operation may be provided.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AGRICULTURAL DISCS Agricultural discs, to which this invention 'is particularly related are conventionally used for tilling soil. For this purpose in performing therequired surface breaking function, the blade or disc must penetrate beneath the surface of the earth and rotate during its travel. For this purpose discs of conventional construction are generally of circular configuration with a typical plate thickness of 0.1 /.375 inch and a diameter of 16 to 36 inches. They are constructed of plain carbon steel possibly modified with increased manganese. Agricultural discs have a central concentric opening which accommodates an axle of the earth-working apparatus with which the disc is used. The periphery of the disc is ground to provide a tapered or beveled, sharpened cutting edge, which of course facilitates the required surfacecutting and penetration action during use. This sharpening of the disc edge is generally performed by rotating the agricultural disc relative to a grinding wheel until the entire edge has been sharpened. Typically this operation has been performed by a manual operation which has the disadvantage of providing a low production rate and requiring a high degree of care on the part of the operator to achieve a uniform cutting edge. i

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for edge grinding of agricultural discs that is adapted for fast, continuous operation and achieves a uniform selected disc edge tapered without requiring operator attention.

This and other objects of the invention, as well as a more complete understanding thereof may be obtained from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Broadly the apparatus of the invention embodies and includes a disc-supporting means in the form of a rotating table having thereon at least two and preferably three disc-supporting stations. Preferably, the table is disc-shaped and has a flat, circular, horizontal surface with the disc-supporting stations near the periphery thereof. Each of said stations includes a rotatable pad on which a disc may be supported for axial rotation during grinding to provide the desired tapered cutting edge. Additional disc-supporting stations may be provided and preferably there are three stations whereby simultaneously a disc can be loaded prior to grinding, a disc may be in grinding position and a disc may be unloaded after grinding. In this manner a continuous operation obviously readily adaptable to automation may be provided.

Means are provided for rotating the table to selectively bring each station and a disc supported thereon into and out of grinding position relative to grinding means. When said disc is positioned for grinding, means are provided for rotating the pad and disc thereon axially to bring the complete periphery thereof into grindingcontact with the grinding means. Preferably for this purpose, there is provided a flat, circular plate with a shaft connected to drive means for axially rotating the plate; means are provided for bringing this plate into and out of contact with an agricultural disc so positioned for grinding. Hence, the plate is lowered into contact with the disc, drive means are actuated to rotate the plate and disc which is in rotating contact therewith a full 360 during contact with the grinding means, and thereafter'upon completion of grinding the plate is moved upwardly and out of contact with the agricultural disc-so that upon rotation of the table an additional disc may be positioned for grinding and the sequence repeated.

The grinding means includes a conventional grinding wheel which may be of aluminum oxide in a resinoid bond. The grinding wheel is connected to drive means for axial rotation thereof during grinding, and additional means are provided for selectively moving the grinding wheel into and out of contact with a disc positioned in grinding relation thereto as above described. Further, means are provided for vertically and horizontally adjusting said grinding means at said position for grinding to permit discs of various diameter to be processed.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a grinding apparatus assembly generally designated as 10. The assembly 10 includes discs upporting device generally designated as l2,disc rotation device generally designated as 14 and disc grinding device generally designated as 16.

The disc-supporting 'device 12 includes a flat, circular horizontally supported table 18 having a disc loading station 20, unloading station 22 and grinding station 24. Each station is identical and includes a circular pad 26 journaled for free rotation on a shaft 28. The table is supported axially for rotation by a shaft 30 connected to a sprocket wheel 34 having a drive chain 36 connected to a sprocket wheel 38 drivingly connected to motor 40. The entire assembly 12 is secured to base plate 42 by vertical support 44. A disc positioned for grinding is designated by dashed lines 45 in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The rotating device 14 includes a flat, circular plate .46 connected for rotation to a motor 48 by shaft 50. The plate 46 and motor 48 are connected to piston 52 .of hydraulic cylinder 54 which upon operation thereof permits the axial raising and lowering of said plate 46 into and out of contact with an agricultural disc, or coulter blade 45, positioned for grinding as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The grinding device 16 includes a conventional grinding wheel 56. The grinding wheel is mounted for rotation on a shaft 58. Rotation of the grinding wheel is provided by a drive chain connected to shaft 62 of motor 64. The portion of the grinding unit 16 thus described is mounted for movement of the grinding wheel toward and away from disc 45 on trunnion 66 by shaft 68. Also mounted on trunnion 66, for effecting this movement, is a pneumatic cylinder 70 having a piston 72. The piston 72 is connected at pivot ear 74 to base plate 76 to which said motor 64 and grinding wheel 56 are mounted. The assembly thus described is positioned on base 42 and adapted for vertical and horizontal adjustment by means of movable adjustable mounting 78. The adjustable mounting 78 includes a worm gear 80 which is operated by hand wheel 82 to permit horizontal adjustment and a like worm gear 84 and associated hand wheel 86 to provide for vertical adjustment. Movement for mounting 78 is provided by wheels 90, movable along parallel ways 92.

With respect to the operation of the apparatus described hereinabove and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings a disc is positioned on loading station 20 and motor 40 is operated to rotate table 18 to bring the disc to grinding position on station 24. This is the position of the disc, indicated as 45, in FIG. 1. Next, by the action of hydraulic cylinder 54 and associated piston 52 the device 14 is lowered unitarily to bring plate 46 into contact with disc 45, whereupon by the operation of motor 48, plate 46 is rotated while in contact with disc 45 to cause axial rotation of said disc.

During disc rotation grinding wheel 56 by the operation of pneumatic cylinder 70 and associated piston 72 is moved into grinding contact with disc 45 from the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Upon complete rotation of the disc 45 while in contact with grinding wheel 56, grinding is completed and by the action of pneumatic cylinder 70 the grinding wheel is again brought to the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawmgs.

During this grinding operation an additional disc is being placed on loading station of table 18 and after completion of the grinding operation the table is again rotated to bring the disc loaded at station 20 to grinding station 24. This movement or rotation of the table will bring the disc having been ground to unloading station 22 whereupon it may be removed from the table. By repeating the sequence a continuous operation is provided.

Although loading and unloading may be performed manually obviously automated means may be provided if desired. Rotation of the table 18 is provided by the operation of motor 40 and associated sprocket wheel 34, chain drive 36 and sprocket 38, the latter of which is drivingly connected to said motor. Rotation of the agricultural disc 45 is permitted by free rotatable pads 26 journaled on shafts 28. This arrangement permits free rotation of the disc 45 by the action described above with regard to the rotating device 14.

The grinding wheel 56 is rotated on shaft 58 by motor 64, the associated shaft of which is connected to chain drive 60. As mentioned, agricultural discs will vary in diameter and, consequently, it is necessary to provide for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the grinding unit 16 relative to the grinding station 24 of table 18. Vertical adjustment is produced by the operation of hand wheel 86 in a direction proper to move worm gear 84 in a direction proper to either raise or lower the unit 16. Likewise, by the operation of hand wheel 82 in association with worm gear 80 the adjustable mounting 78 may be moved horizontally which movement is permitted by wheels 90 moving along ways 92.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the edge grinding of agricultural discs, said apparatus comprising disc-supporting means including a rotating table having thereon at least two disc-supporting stations, means for rotating said table to selectively bring each said station and a disc supported thereon into and out of grinding position relative to grinding means for edge grinding said discs, means for axially rotating said disc and means for selectively bringing said means for axially rotating said disc into and out of contact with a disc in said grinding position, said grinding means including a grinding wheel, driving means for said grinding wheel, and means for selectively moving said grinding wheel into and out of grinding contact with said disc when said disc is positioned in grinding relation thereto.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discsupporting means includes a flat, circular, horizontal table, with at least two disc-supporting stations near the periphery thereof, each said station including a rotatable pad upon which said disc is supported for axial rotation during grinding.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said grinding means includes adjusting means for horizontally and vertically positioning said grinding wheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for axially rotating said disc includes a flat, circular plate having an axial shaft connected to drive means for axial rotation of said plate and means for selectively bringing said plate into and out of contact with a disc in said grinding position. 

1. Apparatus for the edge grinding of agricultural discs, said apparatus comprising disc-supporting means including a rotating table having thereon at least two disc-supporting stations, means for rotating said table to selectively bring each said station and a disc supported thereon into and out of grinding position relative to grinding means for edge grinding said discs, means for axially rotating said disc and means for selectively bringing said means for axially rotating said disc into and out of contact with a disc in said grinding position, said grinding means including a grinding wheel, driving means for said grinding wheel, and means for selectively moving said grinding wheel into and out of grinding contact with said disc when said disc is positioned in grinding relation thereto.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said disc-supporting means includes a flat, circular, horizontal table, with at least two disc-supporting stations near the periphery thereof, each said station including a rotatable pad upon which said disc is supported for axial rotation during grinding.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said grinding means includes adjusting means for horizontally and vertically positioning said grinding wheel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for axially rotating said disc includes a flat, circular plate having an axial shaft connected to drive means for axial rotation of said plate and means for selectively bringing said plate into and out of contact with a disc in said grinding position. 